Currently listening...

This month's posting is an entire album (as I do from time to time). It is the first CD in a two-disc set compiled by Armin Van Buuren titled: A State of Trance 2009. The first disc is On the Beach. Here is the tracklist:

1. John O’Callaghan feat. Lo-Fi Sugar - Never Fade Away (Andy Duguid Mix - On the Beach Intro Edit)
2. Sunlounger feat. Kyler England - Change Your Mind (Myon and Shane 54 Remix)
3. M6 - Paradise Lost
4. Ron Hagen & Pascal M - Riddles In The Sand
5. Mat Zo - The Fractal Universe
6. The Blizzard with Gåte - Iselilja (Sunn Jellie & The Blizzard Dub Remix)
7. Monogato - Miami Vibe (Omnia Remix)
8. Josh Gabriel presents Winter Kills - Deep Down
9. Myon and Shane 54 feat. Aruna - Helpless (Monster Mix)
10. tyDi feat. Audrey Gallagher - You Walk Away
11. Andy Moor & Ashley Wallbridge feat. Meighan Nealon - Faces
12. Rex Mundi feat. Susana - Nothing At All
13. Jerome Isma-Ae - Shaguar
14. Dash Berlin with Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren - Man On The Run (Nic Chagall Remix)

My favorites are 1-2, 7-10, 12-14...so basically the whole album. My favorite lyrically is You Walk Away but the best drop is in Helpless. It gets down and dirty and it's so unexpected that you'll probably have to listen to it a couple of times right off the bat. Man On the Run is all-over incredible; a MUST listen for everyone. Deep Down is a fun one and the first one that caught my attention. I love the guitar on Miami Vibe (which I'm listening to right now). It's a bit more trancey than I usually like but the guitar tempers it to the point of love for me.

If you like Armin or trance or electronic music in general, you won't be disappointed in this album. In fact, I would even go as far to say that you will be blown away by it like I have been. This album is worth listening three, four, better make it 20 times. Thanks G___!!

Sun Valley, Cristina's and Paper Writing...Oh my!

Sun Valley was a very different experience this time around. I have an endless supply of fond memories of Sun Valley summers that involved bike riding, swimming, paddle-boating, and Scrabble - not to mention friends. Since Sun Valley is so contained, we were essentially turned loose with no supervision for 4-5 days every summer. I went back for the first time in almost 10 years this week and, needless to say, it was quite a different experience.

The reason for that was twofold: I am no longer a child and childhood memories are often idealistic AND I was working. I still had a good time because it was Sun Valley, but I didn't get much of a vacation. EARLY early mornings on Thursday and Friday followed by a (singular) early morning on Saturday made me more tired than I usually am. The food, however, was amazing and definitely the highlight of my trip. N___'s birthday was yesterday and since she was with me, we went out to a birthday breakfast this morning before we left. We went to Cristina's (which was a place I had never been before) and everything was AMAZING! I had a crab salad on an english muffin topped with melted gruyere and tomato wedges. It was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. N___ had huckleberry buttermilk pancakes and she said that while they weren't the best pancakes she's ever had, they were delicious. Oh, and the patio was fantastic as well. I could have spent all day on that patio.

We left Ketchum about 10:30 a.m. and headed back to Salt Lake. I actually like driving so it was fine with me. I had my new CD (thanks G___!) and it played about 3 times each way. It was good driving music! We got back to Salt Lake just after 3:00 p.m. and when I got home, the house was 87 degrees. It's still pretty hot in here but it's getting more manageable. I had (have) a paper to write that I meant to take to Sun Valley with me but it completely slipped my mind on Wednesday morning so I started trying to write it when I got home. It's the first paper I've written in 5-6 years and it's much more difficult than I anticipated. I ACTUALLY started writing it about six and worked for a good two hours before getting distracted. All in all, I've written about half and keep finding ways to procrastinate. This is the last distraction and then I'm going to finish it so I can go to bed!

I'm so glad that it's a short work week; the 24th is one of the only times I can (in good conscience) say: Thank god I live in Utah!! However, I have a conference on Saturday which means I don't get to go to the lake with the Crew. :( I am severely disappointed about that and trying to work out a plan so that M___ and I can still go on Saturday night.

It has been a whirlwind of a week and I can't believe tomorrow is Monday but bring it on, baby cause I am ready for the next four days!